Combined water-tower and fire-escape



(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 1. L. D. SHAW.

COMBINED WATER TOWER AND FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Au .31, 1886.

INVENTDH WITNEEEEE N PETERS. Phcm-Lvthugrapllz-r, Washinglorl, n.c.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- L. D. SHAW.

COMBINED WATER TOWER AND FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 348,297. Patented Aug. 31, 1886.

lgl B z III-[mi n u Er a [4 i WITNEEEEE N. PETERS Pholo-Lnbn ra her, Washington, D. a

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 L. D. SHAW.

COMBINED WATER TOWER AND FIRE ESGAPE.

Patented Aug; 81, 1886.

INVENIUH \MTNEEEEE N. PETERS Fhokrhihogmphen Washmglnm D. C.

(No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 4. L. D. SHAW.

COMBINED WATER TOWER AND FIRE ESCAPE.

'm/ENTER Patented Aug. 3 1, 1886.

lfl r Y J E e E W F d 5 m@ 8 J, T 1 M f M 0 N N. PETERS. Phawhmo n her, Washinghm, D r,

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5. L. D. SHAW.

COMBINED WATER TOWER AND FIRE ESGAPE.

Patented Aug. 31, 1886.

(No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

L. D. SHAW.

COMBINED WATER TOWER AND FIRE ESCAPE.

\MTNESEEE Patented Aug. 31, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT Darren.

LORING D. SHAYIV, OF MELROSE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO EDVARD HOlVARD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINED WATER-TOWER AND FIRE-ESCAPE.

FJPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,297, dated August 31, 1886.

Application filed July 25, 1883. Serial No. 101,909. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LORING D. SHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Melrosc, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Combined Portable \Vater-Tower and Fire- Escape, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a plan of my improved watertower and fire-escape, the extension pipe and ladders being raised to a vertical position and shown in horizontal section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same on the line x w of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a plan of the under side of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same with the extension pipe and ladders closed together and lowered to a horizontal position upon the truck. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the center of the apparatus with the extension pipe and ladders raised to a vertical position and partially extended. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on the line y y of Fig. 1, drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section on the line 2 z of Fig. l, drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. Sis a plan of the top of the extension pipe and ladders, with the discharge-pipe removed, drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the main pipe and force-pump and the pipes connected therewith beneath the platform of the apparatus, drawn to an enlarged scale; Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, details. Fig. 15 is a plan of the discharge-pipe, the screw-cap on its upper side being removed.

My invention relates to portable water-towers for use in extinguishing fires; and it consists in certain combinations of mechanical devices and details of construction, as will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, A represents a fourwheeled truck or platform mounted on springs b, the forward portion of the running-gear, to which the pole is applied, being made to swivel, as in ordinary vehicles.

To the under side of the platform A is secured the main pipe B, the rear end of which extends downward and is provided with a screw-coupling, c, for attaching thereto the hose from a fire-engine or hydrant or other source from which water may be supplied under pressure. If it should be desired to attach more than one engine or hydrant to the apparatus, a branch or Y coupling is first screwed onto the coupling 0. The opposite end of the pipe B is screwed into a heavy casting, 0, having a straight passage, d,which forms a continuation of the pipe B.

D. is a closed tank or reservoir, which is secured to the under side of the platform A, and communicates with the main pipe B,which passes directly through it, by means of a small pipe, g, through which the tank can be filled with water from the pipe B by turning the stop-cock h. The upper portion, 20, of the casting O is of circular form, and is provided with ears or lugs k, by means of which it is bolted to the platform A, and within a circular recess in the portion 20 is fitted a hollow turntable, E, forming a chamber, Z, Figs. 5 and 6,which communicates through a passage, m, with the main water-passage (l, the turntable being held in place by a ring, a, and screws 1), as seen in Figs. 5 and 6, the joint between the turn-table and the casting 0 being rendered perfectly tight by. means of a leather packing-ring, q, confined in place by a metallic ring, 0', and screws 8.

The manner in which the turn-table E is partially rotated in either direction will be described hereinafter.

To the upper surface of the turn-table E are bolted two heavy hollow posts or housings, G H, on the inner side of each of which, at the top, is a circular aperture, t, for the reception of a circular flange or trunnion, a, formed around the open side of the base-piece I of the telescopic extension-pipe K, which is thus pivoted between the two housings. The flanges u fit the apertures 15 with a ground joint, to prevent leakage, and the parts are held firmly together by a heavy bolt, w, provided at one end with a head and at the other end with a tightening-nut, a, Fig. 6.

Beneath the open bottom of each of the housings G H is an aperture, Z), extending through the turntable E, and communicating with the IDC . piece I and communicates with the interior end by a solid portion, h.

thereof, an annular chamber, 9, being thus formed between the pipes o f, which is open at its upper end and closed at its lower The second section, (1, of the pipe K slides within the annular chamber 9, and has attached to its lower end an annular flange or ring, 6', provided with a suitable packing, whereby a tight piston is formed, which is free to be moved with the section cl up and down within the chamber 9'.

At the top of the section a is a cap, provided with a stuffing-box, Z, through which the second section, (1, slides, thus preventing leakage at this point; and at the top of the section d is a cap, m, provided with a stuffing-box, a, through which passes the third or top section, 6, of the extension-pipe, which latter section slides loosely within the pipe f, as seen in Fig. 6, and is provided at its lower end with a flange, p, having a shoulder, 21, which strikes the. inside of the cap m, and thus prevents this section from' being forced out of the section d, theunder side of the flangep being made tapering to facilitate the entrance of the lower end of the section 6 within the pipe f when retracted or drawn down.

To the upper end of the section 6 is secured the discharge-pipe L, which is placed at right angles to the extension-pipe, and is capable of being swung around in a horizontal plane. This discharge-pipe is provided with a suitable valve or cut-off, which is operated by cords g, to enable the stream to be shut off or let on by a person standing on the ground, when desired. I prefer to employ a dischargepipe constructed in accordance with the Unit-ed States patent granted to me September 5,1882, No. 263,731; but a pipe of any other suitable construction may be used instead, if preferred.

On one side of the base'piece I of the extension-pipe K is formed a toothed segment, M, with which engages a gear, 1*, on the end of a short shaft, 8, having its bearings in the housing G, the outer end of this shaft having attached thereto a worm-wheel, t, which is rotated by a worm, a, on a shaft, 10, supported in bearings on the outer side of the housing, and provided with a hand-crank, a, by turning which the extension-pipe can be elevated from the horizontal position which it'occupies on the truck when not in use to the vertical position shown. in Fig. 5, or inclined at any other desired angle to the platform A that may be required. As soon as the extensionpipe K has been raised to the desired position by turning the crank it, and water under pressure has been admitted to the main pipe B, it flows up into the extension-pipe until it reaches the discharge-pipe L, previously closed tight, the water at the same time passing through apertures b, Fig. 6, at the lower end of the section e, into the space between this section and the pipe f, and up over the top thereof, down into the annular chamber 9, and through apertures c at the bottom of the section d into the portion of the chamber 9 outside the section d, the water thus exerting its full backward pressure upon the piston t", the surface area of which is greater than the crosssectional area of the closed top of the section e, and consequently the pressure of the water against the upper side of the piston 73 is sufficient to hold down the section d of the extension-pipe K against the upward pressure of the water against the upper closed end of the section e, which latter section is thus first projected upward until arrested by the contact of its stop or flange p with the cap m. After the upper section 6 has been forced out or projected upward, as described, the second section, d, is projected upward or forced out of the, lower section, a, carrying with it. the section 6, in the following manner:

In one side of the base-piece I is placed a two-way cook or valve, (2 Figs. 5 and ,12, provided with a suitablehandle, by turning which a straight passage, e, is opened through the plug of the cock from the interior of the basepiece I to the chamber 9, when the water will be admitted at full pressure to the chamber thus equalizing the water-pressure upon both sides of the piston 73, when the pressure of the water upon the upper closed end of the section 6' and the under side of the cap m will be immediately communicated to the section d, causing the latter to be forced up until the piston 2" comes into contact with the cap 70. The cock (1 can then be turned, if desired, a quarter-way round in one direction,which will cause the water to be shut into the chamber 9', so that it cannot escape,when the section d will be held immovably in its extended position. Should it be desired to lower or retract the section d within the section 0, the cock d is turned into another position,which opens a passage through its plug from the chamber 9 into the atmosphere, thus allowing the wa' ter beneath the piston t" to escape, when the pressure of the water upon the upper side of ICC IIO

the piston '5, combined with the weight of the tion, d.

and supported in a frame, '6 secured to the lower end of the extension-pipe, the shaft of one of these drums being provided with a worm-gear, k which is rotated by a worm, P, Fig. 1-1, on a shaft, m provided with a crankhandle, a", by turning which all of the windlass-drums can be simultaneously revolved to wind up the ropes f, which can thus be made to pull down the upper section 6 while the stream is playing, if desired, and after this section has been retraeteda further draft upon the ropes will also draw down the second sec These ropes also serve to stay the upper section 6 against any backward press are or recoil produced by the discharge of the water from the pipe L, and are also used for retracting the sections 6 and d in case there should be no water in the extension-pipe. The shaft m is so arranged that the worm Z can be thrown out of engagement with the gear is when it is desired to raise the sections of the extension-pipe, thus .allowing the Windlassdrums to be rotated freely to allow the ropes to unwind therefrom.

To the base-piece I is secured a counter-poiseweight, N, for balancing the extensionpipe K, when projected out to its full length, said weight consisting of ahollow casting of the form shown,which is adapted to be filled with water, to impart additional weight thereto, through a pipe, 23, Fig. 5, leading to the interior of the base-piece, a suitable two-way cock, 24, being provided for filling and emptying the hollow weight, when desired. The discharge-pipeLis provided on its upperside with a flanged orifice, m", Fig. 15, provided with a screw-cap, 1)", after removing which a length of hose may be attached to the pipe L at this point, which may be carried by a fireman into or onto aburning building, if desired. The main pipe B is provided with a shut-cit valve, q, accessible from the platform A, by means of which the flow of water to the extension-pipe can be regulated to cause the telescopic sections to be raised with more or less rapidity, and if the engine is attached and is pumping water this valve may be entirely closed, to prevent the passage of water to the extension-pipe until the latter is ready to be raised, the usual relief-valve on the engine allowing the latter to work continuously when the valve (f is closed. The pipe B is provided, near the coupling 0, with a check-valve, P, which closes automatically by the backpressure of the water in case of the bursting of the hose, and prevents the escape of the water from the extension-pipe and the dropping down or retraction of the section 6, as might otherwise occur.

To the extension-pipe K is secured a ladder, Q, composed of three separate sections or parts, 0'' s" 12*, adapted to slide one upon the other, and be carried with the sections of the extension-pipe as the latter are projected or retracted. The lower section, 0', is secured at its bottom to the Windlass-frame i and near its top to arms 10*, attached to the upper end of the lower section, 0', of the extension-pipe. The second section, 8, of the ladder slides on the section 1' and is confined in place by clasps a. at its lower end, and guides b on the arms w", the upper end of this section 8 being connected with the second section, d, of the extension-pipe by arms 0 attached to the arms 9 The top section, t", of the ladder is attached at its upper end, by means of arms (1 to the upper end of the third section, 0, of the extension-pipe, and slides upon the section 8 in suitable guides. At the lower end of the section it of the ladder is a catch or retaining device, B, Fig. 5, which, when the top section of the extension-pipe is projected upward, carrying with it the ladder-section i catches on one of the top rungs of the ladder-section 8", or over or into a suitable projection or notch, and thus automatically holds up this section t", and with it the pipe-section c, which is thus prevented from dropping down within the section (1 after the discharge-pipe L is opened, and the pressure of the water on the upper end of the section 0 consequently reduced. No device of this description is required to hold up the pipe-section d, as by turning the cock (1 the water in the chamber 9 can be confined therein to hold this section in its elevated position, as before described. By thus providing the apparatus with a sliding sectional ladder which is adapted to be extended and closed up with the extensionpipe K a convenient means of escape is atforded from a burning building, while it also enables the firemen to readily ascend to the top of the tower, if it should be desired to couple hose to the discharge-pipe L,and carry the same into or upon the burning building from the top of the apparatus, or for any other purpose. K the platform A is clamped to the axles to steady it, and the springs b of the runninggear thus relieved from weight by means of two arms, a, at each axle, pivoted one to each side ofthe platform, and each provided at the lower end with a square notch or slot, which fits over the axle, after which the upper slotted end of the arm 6 is clamped by a screwnut, f, )rovided with a handle, thus rendering the platform and extensioirpipe steady, as required.

I will now describe the manner in which the turn table E is rotated into any desired position to cause the extension-pipe K to be turned about its longitudinal axis when elevated in a vertical position, or, ifiuclined at an angle,to be swung over from one side of the platform to the other when there is no water under pressure in the pipe B.

S T are two cylinders secured to the upper surface of theplatform,on opposite sides thereof, immediately over the reservoir 1). These cylinders, which are parallel with each other, are provided with pistons g, the piston-rods h of whichpass through stulfing-boxes '11, and to these rods 1r are secured the opposite ends of a chain,V, which passes around the periph- Before raising the extension-pipe IIO cry of the turntable E,and is connected therewith by means of spurs or projections k Fig. 2, thereon, with which the links of the chain engage. Beneath the platform A issecured an ordinary double-acting force-pump, W, provided with an air-chamber, Z and ap propriate valves, a suction-pipe, m leading into the bottom of the reservoir D, and abrakelever, a, being placed above the platform A, and having a removable extension piece or handle, 12 Fig. 7.

g is the delivery-pipe of the pnmp,which is connected by branch pipes r s with pipes t a, leading to the front ends of the cylindersS T, and at the junctions of the pipes 1- s with the pipes t a are placed the two-way cocks 'w a, the handles 25 of which are placed in an accessible position above the platform A. The T-couplings to which the cocks w w are applied are also connected with return-pipes a 1), leading to and connected with the suctionpipe m When it is desired to rotate the turntable E in one direction, the cock 10 is opened and the cook of closed, when, as the pump is operated, the water drawn from the tank D will be forced through the pipes r i into the cylinder S in front of its piston, forcing the latter back, the movement of the piston being communicated through the red It and chain V to the turn-table E, which is thus turned as desired, and when it is desired to rotate the turn-table in the opposite direction the cock w is closed and the cock an opened, when the water from the pump will be forced through the pipes 8 a into the cylinder '1 in front of its piston, the water in the other cylinder, S, being forced back by the counter movement of its piston and returned through the pipes t a to the suction-pipe m", a suitable passage in the cook 10 causing the water to take this direction.- The water in the cylinder T is returned to the suction-pipe m in a similarmanner when the cock w is opened and the cock at closed.

0 is a pipe leading from the delivery-pipe at its junction with the branch pipes r 8 into the main pipe B, and provided with a stopcock or valve, d", and when the main waterpassage is closed tightly at both ends and the cock d is opened water can be forced by the pump W from the reservoir D into the pipe B, and thence to the extension-pipe K, for the purpose of projecting or forcing outitssections in case there should be no street-hydrant at hand and it should be desired to elevate the extension-pipe before the arrival of an engine, the reservoirD being constructed to hold more than enough waterto fill the extension-pipe K full when all of ;its sections are projected to their full extent.

If it should be desired to lower the extension-pipe K by allowing the water therein to flow back into the reservoir D, the cock h in pipe 9 is opened, when the water will pass directly into the reservoir, which is provided with an oVerflow-pipe,e, so that if the reser voir D should be partially full when the cock his opened and there should be more than sufficient water in the extension-pipe to fill the reservoir the surplus will run out through the overflow-pipe e, and thus allow the sections of the extension-pipe to be retracted to their lowest positions.

When the main pipe B contains water under sufficient pressure, the turntable E can be operated without the employment of the forcepump W by simply opening the cock din the pipe-c", when the water under pressure will pass from the main pipe 13 through the pipe 0 to the branch pipes r 8 and through one or the other of the cocks w" or 00* and'pipe t or a to the cylinder S or T, as desired, in

which case the other cock, 1 0 or m, as the case may be, is turnedinto such position as to allow the water to pass from the cylinder being emptied into the pipe at or b", and thence by the suction-pipe m to the reservoir D, and out therefrom by the overflow-pipe, if the reservoir should be full.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by the employment of the hydraulic apparatus described the tower, with its ladder, can be readily operated and controlled by one person alone, thus avoiding loss of time at a critical moment, when any delay might result in a great destruction of property.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a water-tower, a telescopic extension.- pipe, K, having an open annular chamber, 9, within its lower section, and a second section, d, provided with apistomi, sliding within said chamber, and having a surface area greater than the cross-sectional area of the upper section of the extension-pipe, whereby the backward pressure of the water on the piston,combined with the weight of the sections connected therewith, is caused to hold down the section d against its tendency to be projected outward by the pressure of the water against the closed top of the upper section of the pipe, in combination with means for admitting water into the chamber 9 beneath the piston, to equalize the pressureupon opposite sides thereof, and thereby cause the section (1 to be projected outward by the pressure of the water upon the cap m and the outer closed end of the upper section, 6, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the lower section, 0, having an open annular chamber, g, of the piston 13 and the section d, secured thereto, and provided with apertures 0 for the 'purpose of admitting the water to the entire upper surface area of the piston z", substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the pipe f and sections 6 c, of the section 6, provided with a flange, p, and apertures I), for the passage of the water into the space between the pipe f and the section 6, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a water'tower, the combination, with the truck or platform A and a main water pipe or passage adapted to receive water under pressure and conduct it to the base of the extension-pipe K, of a hollow turn-table, E, communicating with the said main water-passage and provided with hollow posts or housings G H, through which the water is conducted to the base-piece of the extension-pipe, pivoted on trunnions between said housings, all constructed to operate substantially as set forth.

5. In a water-tower, the combination, with the extension-pipe K, pivoted between the posts G H, and means, substantially as described, for elevating the pipe from its horizontal position on the truck or platform, of the hollow counterpoise-weight N, attached to the base-piece I of the lower section, and adapted to contain water, and provided with means for filling and emptying the same, substantially as described.

6. In a water-tower, the combination, with a truck or platform, A, of the turn-table E, having a sectional extension-pipe mounted thereon, and the cylinders ST, provided with pistons connected with said turn-table, and operated by hydraulic pressure to turn the said table, substantially as set forth.

7. In a water-tower, the combination, with the truck or platform A, of the turn-table E, the cylinders S T, with their pistons 9 rods h, and the chain V, connected therewith and with the turn-table, the main pipe B, the pipe 0, with its cock d, and the pipes r s i a a b m and the two-way cocks '10 x, whereby the turn-table can be operated by the pressure of the water in the main pipe B, substantially as described.

8. In a water-tower, the combination, with the truck or platform A, of the turntable E, with its extension-pipe K, the cylinders S T, with their pistons 9 rods h and the chain V, connected therewith and with the turntable, the force-pump WV, the reservoir D, and the pipes at q" 1" s t a, with their cocks 10 00, all constructed to operate substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

9. In a water-tower, the combination of the main pipe B, the reservoir D, the force-pump WV, with its suction and delivery pipes, and

the pipe 0', leading from the pump to the pipe B, and provided with a valve or cook, d, whereby Water can be drawn by the pump from the reservoir and forced into the pipe B, to project or raise the sections of the extensionpipe K, substantially as set forth.

10. In a water-tower, the combination, with the reservoir D, provided with an overflowpipe, 0, and the main pipe B, of the pipe 9, provided with a valve or cook, h, for conducting water directly from the pipe B to the reservoir, substantially as and for the purpose described. q

\Vitness my hand this 18th day of July, A. D. 1883.

LORING D. SHAWV.

In presence of- I. E. TESOHEMAOHER, W. J. CAMBRIDGE. 

